Fans have held banners calling for the Spaniard to go and backed Leighton Baines after the left-back was forced to apologise for saying Everton lacked ‘chemistry’.

More protests are planned for Saturday’s home game against Bournemouth, when Howe will face the manager he has been linked with replacing.

Asked if he would be interested in succeeding Martinez should he leave Everton, Howe told reporters at his Friday morning press conference: “I don’t think I have to reaffirm my commitment here every week, which seems to be a regular pattern. I love it here and I’m committed to the job.

“You’ve got to win games to stay in work and I’m fully committed to this job here.

“When you’re a manager yourself you have the full support and understanding of other managers. It’s a very difficult profession and you’re judged constantly every week on your results, on a lot of aspects of your job. It’s very tough at this level.”